The International Blues Challenge, established in 1984, is the world’s largest gathering of Blues talent competing in the Solo/Duo, Full Band, and Best Self-Produced CD categories, in Memphis, TN in January of 2020.

The Washington Blues Society, the statewide affiliate of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, is working with the Inland Empire Blues Society (IEBS) and South Sound Blues Association.

Semi-finals were held across the state to make it easier for Blues acts to participate. During the IBC dozens of acts competed for the chance to represent WA State in Memphis. In 2019 our entry from Washington State, ‘Sammy Eubanks and the Working Class,’ took 2nd place in the finals and we have had two previous champions from our state in 2012 and 2016 as well.

The event is free with donations are taken at the event with all proceeds going help with expenses for the winner’s trip to Memphis, as the WBS strives to cover airfare and hotel stay for the competitors from our state. The Washington Blues Society will host a 21+ Beer Garden with varieties from Anacortes Brewing and has invited several popular food trucks t service the show. The Inn at Port Gardener has a special room rate for the date and Lombardi’s is taking reservation for their patio seating.

The competition follows the rules set by the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 25 minutes, and each competitor will be allowed one 15-minute set change. Any Blues act that in resides in WA, OR, ID, MT, BC or ALB, may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the Washington Blues Society.

The Washington Blues Society is a nonproﬁt organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonproﬁt organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is one of over 250 aﬃliates of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. The Washington Blues Society is a proud recipient of the 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive award from The Blues Foundation (www.wablues.org).

Introducing the finalists at this year’s Washington International Blues Challenge in Everett August 25

SOLO /DUO

The RooTsters The RooTsters play live, acoustic music, because playback devices have too many buttons to fiddle with onstage and because we blew our ears out on rock, back when we were a lot younger. We bring you a diverse but strangely compatible and compelling mix of styles of very listenable, mostly unplugged music. Alan Kausal and Stanislove blend American acoustic- and pop guitar styles into intimate conversations, edgy rants, and suspiciously improbable tales.

Blue Moon Marquee This duo, a self-styled gypsy blues band, writes and performs originals influenced by early blues and swing. A.W. Cardinal, a Metis of Cree heritage, howls with a distinctive, smoky vocal while playing a jazzy blues guitar and Jasmine Colette, aka Badlands Jazz, is the rhythm section on upright bass and keeps the swing with both feet while singing harmonies.

Flying Blind is Russ Milham on guitar with Dan Bode playing harmonica. They both sing lead and harmonize. The magic of Flying Blind is the shared, rich history of the various regional blues styles and jazz influences that allow them to take off from the trusted landmarks of the deep south, Chicago, New Orleans, and Kansas City to give you new and original views of the blues landscape, even when they’re flying by instruments and can’t see where they’re going.

John “Greyhound” Maxwell (guitar, mandolin, vocals) was voted Washington Blues Society’s Best Acoustic Guitarist for 2018 and his newest CD represented the WBS at the 2019 IBC in Memphis. His previous CD represented the Golden Gate Blues Society at the 2016 IBC and placed in the final five. John has opened for Taj Mahal and Keb Mo, Maria Muldaur, Marcia Ball, Coco Montoya (among many others).

Brian Butler puts his own stamp on the blues while sustaining its rich emotion and sound. Brian includes originals, classic and obscure covers to create powerful blues journeys. Brian backs his vocals with commanding guitar playing that rings with authority and his harmonica adds another voice to the mix. His award-winning CD, Butler’s Blues, has been well-received.

Robby and Randy: Robert Patterson is a world-class guitar player, singer/songwriter with 30+ years’ experience. For 13 years, he was a force of “The Fat Tones” as a singer with a powerful voice and wide vocal range. Veteran bass player Randy Knowles has honed his craft since age 14 when he began playing bass professionally. The Inland Empire Blues Society named Randy Knowles Best Blues Bassist in 2015 and 2016.

THE BANDS

The Slide Pocket

Long-time partners Eric Rice on guitar and Scotty Harris on bass team up with Jesse Weston on keys and Tom Dostal on drums to form The Slide Pocket. This band delivers a sound unique to the personality of each member and rekindles the spirit of the artists who started it all. They rework classic blueswith their own creative drive and compose a brand of blues only found in “The Slide Pocket”.

CD Woodbury has played festivals and clubs across the region with original blues and other favorites. The album, Monday Night! was #1 on the Roots Report’s Washington Chart for over six months and peaked at #8 on the international chart. CD has been awarded 11 Best of the Blues Awards, including five Electric Blues Guitar awards in 10 years. Drummer Don Montana has appeared with Mitch Woods and John Nemeth and bassist Patrick McDanel has worked Mel Torme, The Temptations, and George Clinton Jr. Multi-instrumentalist Mike Marinig has toured with the Climax Blues Band and works with Mad Bojo.

The T-Town Aces are an elec-tro-fied blues band fronted by Joel Astley, winner of the 2019 Washington Blues Society’s Best Male Vocalist and Best Blues Harmonica Award two years running. The T-Town Aces feature Joel Astley on vocals and harmonica, Tom “T-Boy” Boyle on guitar, Dennis Ellis on sax/vocals, David Hudson on drums and Les “Wild Child” White on bass and vocals.

Showcasing new talent in the blues and blues veterans, Randy Oxford Blues brings a fresh, new sound to the IBC finals. Randy Oxford (trombone), Willy Straub (guitar) and Eddie Mendoza (drums) have competed in Memphis at the IBC and Miranda Kichpanich (bass & vocals) and Nick Mardon (guitar & vocals) represented the WBS in Memphis at the youth showcase. This new group will perform originals and an obscure cover or two done in unique and original ways. “Randy Oxford BLUES….it feels good.

Rafael Tranquilino has played music since age 10. Since then, he’s learned to play drums, harmonica, keyboards, bass and guitar (his signature instrument). He has gained a reputation playing guitar and as musical director for the Randy Oxford Band before launching the Rafael Tranquilino Band, a powerhouse of guitar, bass, drums and organ with vocals that fuse rock, blues, and funk.

About myeverettnews

My Everett News is a hyperlocal news website featuring breaking news and events in Everett, WA. We also cover City of Everett information and items of interest to those who live and work in Everett. It's written by Leland Dart a former Snohomish County based radio reporter born and raised in Everett.

The Pignataro family has been serving car buyers in Everett for more than 40 years!

Rick Merrill is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you with your legal needs.

Click to see what's happening at the Port of Everett

Ready for a fantastic breakfast or lunch?

Search MyEverettNews.com

Donate to MyEverettNews.com

Want to support MyEverettNews.com without subscribing? Click the button below to donate any amount. Your support is vital to continue our mission of bringing you news and photos about Everett, Washington you can’t find anywhere else.

Admin Stuff

Posts by date

MyEverettNews.com Copyright 2011-2019

All contents subject to copyright. Reproduction of images and information not allowed without written consent.
If you'd like to contribute to MyEverettNews.com to support our efforts bringing online news to Everett click the Donate button below.

MyEverettNews.com is independently owned and based in Everett, WA

My Everett News is an independently owned news website featuring breaking news and events in Everett, WA. We also cover City of Everett information for those who live and work in Everett. Published by Leland Dart, a former Snohomish County based radio reporter born and raised in Everett. To contact Leland Dart click the contact us link at the top of the page.